Separable fastener



June l, 1937., E. H. DAU

SEPARABLE FASTENER Filed oct. 1o, 1,935 2 sheets-sheet 1 SEPARABLE FASTENER Filed oct. 1o, i935 2 sheets-sneer 2 2\ x K 20 #ggggggg-* J 7N W 4 .5 6' 4 lmeno:

@ta @QM/ MW Patented June 1, 1931 2,082,619

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SEPARABLE FASTENER Eberhard H. Dau, Ingram, Pittsburgh, Pa.

Application October 10, 1935, Serial No. 44,349

4 Claims. (Cl. 24205) 'Ihis invention relates to separable fasteners. Figure 3 is a fragmentary perspective of one and particularly to those which are composed of of the strngers, or tapes, of Figure 2.

a plurality of interlocking v members that are Figure 4 is a sectional end elevation of a form attached to a pair of flexible stringers or tapes, of apparatus which may be employed to manu- 5 and operated by a suitable slide device. facture the device of the invention.

separable interlocking fasteners of this type Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 4 but dishave become extremely popular for a variety of closing some of the elements of the apparatus uses, and are made in a number of ways. At in other operative positions. first, the fastener elements were formed of sheet Figure 6 is a fragmentary side elevation illus- 10 metal and clamped by integral leg portions to trating the manner in which the stringer, or 10 the Stringer, or tape member, which was protape, and its attached fastener elements are revided with a reenforced receiving or attaching moved from a portion of the apparatus of Figures edge. Subsequently, the fastener elements have 4 and 5. y been formed by die casting, and in some instances Referring more particularly to the drawings,`

of material other than metal; such as various the numeral 2 designates a Stringer, or tape, 15 types of plastics which lend themselves readily to which preferably has one of its edges reenforced molding. Such non-metallic fastener elements in a suitable manner, as shown at 3. Both the may be colored to increase theirsales appeal, Stringer and its reenforced edge are preferably and do not conduct heat as readily as those formed of fabric or other suitable material which o formed of metal. In addition, they are lighter is not only flexible but relatively absorbent. y 2n in weight, and cheaper to manufacture. According to the teaching of the invention, the It is one of the objectsof the present invention novel fastener elements per se are formed of a to provide a novel separable fastener having not suitable moldable material, which may be any of only the advantages of those of the prior art but a number of plastic substances, and are attached also one in which the interlocking fastener eleto the reenforced edge 3 of the stringer, or tape. ments are attached to their Stringer or tape 2 solely by adhesion. That is to say, they are members solely by adhesion at their bases, whereattached without the use of the usual integral by the heretofore l necessary leg portions are leg portions which tightly embrace the Stringer. eliminated. By this method of attachment, it is It will, of course, be readily understood by those practical to make a separable fastener in which skilled in the art that if the stringer, or tape, 2 30 the greatest thickness of the assembled device is of suiflcient thickness the reenforced edge 3 is the thickness of the Stringer, or tape. This last may, if desired, be dispensed with. named feature is very important and desirable The numeral 4 generally designates the fasdue to the fact that the fastener elements per se tener elements which are so treated as to be may be spaced inwardly from the sides of the rerendered plastic and partially absorbed by the 35 enforced edge of the Stringer, or tape, and the reenforced edge3 of the stringer 2. The absorbed operating slide device moved in contact along the portion of oneof the fastener elements 4 is illuslatter, thus enabling a smoother operation. In trated at 5 in Figures 1 and 3. Thus, the fasaddition, the inward spacing of the sides of the tener elements are secured to the Stringer 2 withinterlocking fastener elements with respect to out employing the usual integral legs, orother 40 the sides of the reenforced edge of the stringer, embracing portions, as is the case in convenor tape, permits the latter to serve as the sole tional practice. area of contact with the object to be enclosed by By adhering the fastener elements 4 in this the device to which the assembled fastener is manner, the overall thickness of the assembled 4'5 applied; fOr instance, the bOdy 0f a DQI'SOI'I Wearfastener of the invention may be represented by 45 ing an undergarment employing the separable the thickness of the reenforced edge 3 of the fastener of the invention. Stringer 2. In other words, the thickness of the The foregoing and further objects will be apreenforced edge 3, as indicated at A, may be at parent after referring to the drawings, in which: least as great, or greater, than the width B of the Figure 1 is an end elevation of a Stringer, or fastener elements 4; whereby the numerous acl- 50 tape, with a fastener element of the invention atvantages previously referred to are obtained. tached thereto. As shown in Figure 3 of the drawings, the ias- Figure 2 yis a fragmentary plan disclosing a tener elements 4 are substantially V-shaped in pair of stringers, or tapes, with a series of the cross-section and concavo-convex longitudinally fastener elements in interlocked relation. of their axes (the convexities being represented 55 at 6 and the'eoncavities at 1).

The wing portions of the substantially V-shaped fastener elements are shown as being substantially semicylindrical on their transverse axes. For the purpose of greater tenacity, or adherence, the bases of the wings of the V.\.-shaped fastener elements f3 are preferably thicker than the outer ends thereof.

According to the foregoing, it will be noted that the fastener elements 4 are distinct from the stringers 2 and defined by surfaces other than the surfaces of the stringers; and also that the surfaces defining the fastener elements 4 are extended beyond the surfaces of those portions of the stringers by which they are carried. In other words, the stringers form no part of the interlocking surfaces of the fastener elements.

Referring to Figures 4, 5 and 6, I have illustrated one form of apparatus which may be used to make the article'of my invention. According to this form of apparatus, the numeral 9 designates a pair of cooperating mold elements whose most adjacent surfaces are shown at I0. These surfaces IU of the mold elements 9 are connected to slightly inwardly spaced mold surfaces I2 by recesses I3. The upper ends of the adjacent sides of the mold elements 9 are further inwardly spaced, as at It, to receive an element to be later described.

Each of the`mold elements 9 is provided with a longitudinal aperture I6 in which there is disposed a suitable heating mediumsuch as electrical resistance heating elements Il, which are thermostatically controlled.

A vertically movable carrier-head I9 is adapted for reeiprocation within the recess provided by the inwardly spaced surfaces I4 on the adjacent sides of the mold elements 9. This carrierhead I9 carries a pair of die plungers 2D which are secured thereto in any suitable manner and extended downwardly therefrom and shaped to provide a plurality of male die elements 2l. These male die elements 2l are of such shape as will Yform the fastener elements 4 from a suitableplastic substance.

`In operation, a Stringer, or tape,'2 is disposed between the most adjacent surfaces I9 of the mold elements 9 with its reenforced edge occupying the recesses I 3. The mold elements 9 are held in adjacency (the degree of which may.. if necessary, be carefully regulated), by any suitable means. While the mold elements 9 are in this position, a suitable plastic or moldable substance 22 (in any convenient form) is disposed between the slightly inwardly spaced mold surfaces I2 and on the top of the reenforced edge 3 of the Stringer 2. This plastic substance 22 may, as shown, be in the form of a rectangular stick of compacted particles of a suitable plastic substance: or in any other character or shape.

The mold elements 9 having previously been brought to the required and controlled temperature, will immediately tend to render plastic the moldable substance 22. The carrier-head I9 is then lowered into the recess provided by the inwardly spaced surfaces It of the mold elements 9. and the die elements 2I are brought into contact with the sub-stance 22, which is shaped thereby. Preferably. thc` die elements 2l are maintained at substantially the same temperature as that of the die elements 9 by any suitable means. This means may. of course, be other than the resistance heating elements Ill.

The heat and pressure developed by the conjoint effects of the mold elements 9 and die elements 2| shape the plastic or moldable substance 22 into the form of the fastener elements Il and simultaneously cause portions 5 of the latter to be absorbed by the reenforced edge 3 of the tape 2, whereby adherence is effected.

After a sufiicient interval of time has elapsed (to effect curing) the mold elements 9 are sep-l arated and the tape 2 pulled away from the diej' elements 2I in the`manner shown in Figure 6.

- The mold elements 9, die plungers 20, etc. mayt be of any length desired, whereby the separable interlocking fasteners of the invention can be produced in extreme lengths.

WhileI have shown and described one specifc embodiment of my invention, it will be understood that I do not wish to be limited exactly thereto, since various modifications may be made without departing from the scope of my invention, as defined by the following claims.

I claim:

1. A separable fastener comprising a pair of stringers carrying a plurality of opposed interlocking fastener members which are constructed and arranged to interlock with their longitudinal axes occupying a common plane, said opposed interlocking fastener members being distinct from said stringers and defined by surfaces other than the surfaces of said stringers. the surfaces defining said interlocking fastener members being extended beyond the surfaces of those portions of-said stringers by which they are carried, the thickness of the edges of said stringers being at least equal to the Width of the bases of the interlocking fastener members carried there- 2. A separable fastener comprising a pair of stringers, each of said stringers being provided with a reenforced edge carrying a plurality of opposed interlocking fastener members which are constructed and arranged to interlock with their longitudinal axes occupying a common plane, said opposed interlocking fastener me'mbers being distinct from said stringers and dened by surfaces v other than the surfaces of said stringers, the surfaces dening said interlocking fastener members being extended beyond the surfaces of those portions of said stringers by which they are carried, the thickness of the reenforced edges of said stringers being at least equal to the width of the bases of the interlocking fastener members carried thereby.

3. A separable fastener comprising a pair of stringers carrying a plurality of opposed interlocking fastener members, said interlocking fastener members being substantially V-shaped in cross-section and concavo-convex longitudinally over their axes, the entireties of the wings formed by said V-shaped interlocking fastener members being tapered longitudinally toward the opposing interlocking fastener members.

4. A separable fastener comprising a pair of stringers carrying a plurality of opposed interlocking fastener members. said interlocking fastener members being substantially V-shaped in cross-section and concavo-convex longitudinally over their axes. the shape of each of the wings formed by said V-shaped interlocking fastener members in a transverse plane being substantially that of a segment of a cylinder.

EBERHARD H. DAU. 

